Cucumber hybrid px04914104

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and the inbred cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits in a single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any trait deemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield, resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, and nutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination. There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollen comes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over many generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a uniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A cross between two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many gene loci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number of loci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically and are not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performance unpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development of homozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection are examples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbred plants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine the genetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-based sources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derived therefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those have commercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a cucumber plant of the hybrid designated PX04914104, the cucumber line API74-200MO*HP200 and cucumber line API45-1197MO. Also provided are cucumber plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Parts of these cucumber plants are also provided, for example, including pollen, an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO comprising an added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a genetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO is defined as comprising a single locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of a line by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced through transformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. The cucumber seed of the invention may, in one embodiment, be provided as an essentially homogeneous population of cucumber seed of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed are generally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seed of hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO may be defined, in one non-limiting embodiment, as at least about 97% of the total seed, including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population can be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population of cucumber plants designated PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerable cells of a cucumber plant of hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO is provided. The tissue culture will preferably be capable of regenerating cucumber plants capable of expressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO include those traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed, fruit and vines. Still further, the present invention provides cucumber plants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plants having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided for producing cucumber seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generally comprise crossing a first parent cucumber plant with a second parent cucumber plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent cucumber plants is a plant of cucumber line API74-200MO*HP200 or cucumber line API45-1197MO. These processes may be further exemplified as processes for preparing hybrid cucumber seed or plants, wherein a first cucumber plant is crossed with a second cucumber plant of a different, distinct genotype to provide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of cucumber line API74-200MO*HP200 or cucumber line API45-1197MO. In these processes, crossing will result in the production of seed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing” comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent cucumber plant, often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediated by insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually. Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without the need for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first and second parent cucumber plants into plants that bear flowers. A third step may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as by emasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination between the first and second parent cucumber plants. Yet another step comprises harvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent cucumber plants. The harvested seed can be grown to produce a cucumber plant or hybrid cucumber plant.

The present invention also provides the cucumber seeds and plants produced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent cucumber plant with a second parent cucumber plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent cucumber plants is a plant of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. In one embodiment of the invention, cucumber seed and plants produced by the process are first generation (F₁) hybrid cucumber seed and plants produced by crossing a plant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. The present invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid cucumber plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing a plant derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO, the method comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO, wherein said preparing comprises crossing a plant of the hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO with a second plant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, the method may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. The plant derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO may be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method of producing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting cucumber from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of which sequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a cucumber plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides cucumber plant cells that have a genetic complement in accordance with the cucumber plant cells disclosed herein, and plants, seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles, and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic of the expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles. It is understood that hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO could be identified by any of the many well known techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybrid genetic complements, as represented by cucumber plant cells, tissues, plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid genetic complement of a cucumber plant of the invention with a haploid genetic complement of a second cucumber plant, preferably, another, distinct cucumber plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a cucumber plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid genetic complement of this invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a plant of an hybrid cucumber that exhibits a combination of traits comprising monoecious flowers, resistance to multiple viruses, a fruit suitable for pickling, a fruit at edible maturity that is about 16 cm in length and 4.7 cm in diameter, a fruit at edible maturity that weighs about 240 gm, and a third leaf whose mature blade size is about 203 mm in length and about 206 mm in width. In certain embodiments, the combination of traits may be defined as controlled by genetic means for the expression of the combination of traits found in cucumber hybrid PX04914104.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of determining the genotype of a plant of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO comprising detecting in the genome of the plant at least a first polymorphism. The method may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms in the genome of the plant. The method may further comprise storing the results of the step of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium. The invention further provides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of the invention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unless specifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of the mean for the device or method being employed to determine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunction with the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, the words “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically noted otherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-ended linking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, such as “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and “including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlisted steps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traits and covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and any specific examples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants, seeds and derivatives of cucumber hybrid PX04914104, cucumber line API74-200MO*HP200 and cucumber line API45-1197MO. The hybrid PX04914104 is produced by the cross of parent lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. The parent lines show uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed hybrid PX04914104 can be obtained.

The development of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and its parent lines can be summarized as follows.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Cucumber Hybrid PX04914104

The parents of hybrid PX04914104 are API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO.

The breeding history for parent line API45-1197MO is described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Breeding history for API45-1197MO Family Family Family Family Selection Selection Selection Selection Pedigree Gen Activity (Anth) (ALS) (Scab) (CMV) (Anth) (ALS) (Scab) (CMV) GP5299XMP5280 F1 F2 F3 Screen for PRSV select for Gy and Mo F4 Screen for PZW, select for Gy and Mo F5 Screen for Anth, ALS, Scab, PZW mix F6 Screen for 13-1-0 14-0-0 Anth, ALS, Scab, PZW mix F7 Screen for Anth, ALS, Scab, CMV F8 Select for plant and fruit shape F9 Screen for 14-0-0  5-8-1 14-0-0 8-0-0 R R R R Anth, ALS, Scab, CMV F10 Screen for 14-0-0 14-0-0 14-0-0 1-6-1 R R R I Anth, ALS, Scab, CMV API45-1197MO F11 BULK

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid therefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber Hybrid PX04914104, Cucumber Line API74-200MO*HP200 and Cucumber Line API45-1197MO

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant having the physiological and morphological characteristics of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and the parent lines thereof. A description of the physiological and morphological characteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 2-4.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PX04914104 CHARACTERISTIC PX04914104 Eureka 1. Type Predominant usage Pickling Pickling Predominant culture Outdoor Outdoor Area of best adaptation in the USA Most areas Most areas 2. Maturity Days from seeding to market 66 43 maturity 3. Plant Habit Vine Vine Growth type Indeterminate (Corona, Indeterminate Levina) Vigor Strong (Avir, Farbio, Nimbus) Sex expression Monoecious Monoecious (Hokus, Sporu) Number of female flowers per node 1 to 3 (Hokus, Sandra) Flower color Yellow Yellow Flower color (RHS color chart value) 12A 12A 4. Main Stem Measurements main stem length 120.5 cm 266.7 cm Measurements number of nodes from 2 18 cotyledon leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower Measurements internode length 13.7 cm 7.9 cm Form Grooved, ridged Grooved, ridged Total length of first 15 internodes Medium (Fablo, Marketmore) Length of internodes of side shoots Short 5. Leaf Mature blade of third leaf: leaf length 203 mm 176 mm Mature blade of third leaf: leaf width 206 mm 174 mm Mature blade of third leaf: petiole 15.6 cm 15 cm length Size of blade Large (Corona) Intensity of green color Medium (Rocket GS, Stereo) Blistering Weak (Pepinex 69, Rocket GS) Undulation of margin Medium Length of terminal lobe Short (Kornim) Width of terminal lobe Medium Ratio length/width of terminal lobe Equal to 1 Young fruit: type of vestiture Prickles only (Tagor) Young fruit: density of vestiture Sparse (Tagor) Young fruit: color of vestiture White (Farbio, Levo, Rocket GS, Sandra) Young fruit: size of warts Small (Astrea, Breso, Donor, Uwy) Parthenocarpy Absent (Levo, Toska 70) Fruit: length Medium (Gemini) 6. Fruit At edible maturity: fruit length 16.0 cm 12.8 cm Diameter Medium (Corona) At edible maturity: fruit diameter at 4.7 cm 4.2 cm medial Ratio length/diameter Medium Core diameter in relation to diameter Medium (Corona) of fruit At edible maturity: fruit gram weight 240 g 156.2 g Skin color/mottling Not mottled (Sensation) Not mottled At edible maturity: Yellowish Absent Absent blossom end stripes At edible maturity: Predominant Dark green Dark green color at stem end At edible maturity: Predominant 139A 139A color at stem end (RHS Color Chart value) At edible maturity: Predominant Dark green Medium green color at blossom end At edible maturity: Predominant 139B 143A color at blossom end (RHS Color Chart value) At edible maturity: Fruit neck shape Not necked Not necked Predominant shape of stem end at Obtuse (Maram, Score, market stage Tagor) Length of neck Shape of calyx end at market stage Obtuse (Astrea, Score, Picadilly Hybrid, Raider) At edible maturity: Fruit tapering Ends blunt or rounded Blunt/rounded At edible maturity: Stem end cross Circular Circular section At edible maturity: Medial cross Circular Circular section At edible maturity: Blossom end Circular Circular cross section Ground color of skin at market stage Yellow (Gale Tros) Intensity of ground color of skin Light At edible maturity: Skin thickness Thin Thin At edible maturity: Skin ribs Absent/not ribbed Absent/not (Maram, Riesenchal) ribbed At edible maturity: Skin toughness Tender Tender At edible maturity: Skin luster Dull Dull At edible maturity: Spine color White White At edible maturity: Spine quality Coarse Coarse At edible maturity: Spine density Few Few Vestiture Absent or very sparse (Beth Alpha) Warts Absent (Diana) At edible maturity: Tubercles (warts) Few, obscure Few, obscure Stripes (ribs excluded) Present (Levo) Length of stripes Short (Astrea) Length of peduncle Short (Admirable, Belcanto) Thickness of peduncle Medium (Dominant) Ground color of skin at physiological Yellow ripening Time of development of female Late (Fin de Meaux, flowers (80% of plants with at least Riesenchal) one female flower) Cotyledon: bitterness Absent (Fablo, Pandex, Rocket GS, Sandra) At edible maturity: Flavor/bitterness Absent/bitterfree (Farbio, Absent/bitterfree at stem end Levo, Rocket GS, Sporu) 7. Fruit seed at harvest maturity Measurements fruit seed length 1.0 cm Measurements fruit seed diameter at 0.45 cm medial Color Cream Color RHS Color Chart value 161D Color pattern Not striped Surface Smooth Netting Slight or none 8. Seeds Number of seeds per fruit 308 260 Grams per 1,000 seeds 24.35 g 29.6 g 9. Resistance Resistance to Cucumber Scab Present/resistant Present (Gummosis) (Cladosporium (Marketmore 76) cucumerinum) Resistance to Cucumis Mosaic Virus Present (Hokus, Levo, (CMV) Naf) Resistance to powdery mildew Present (Cordoba) (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) Resistance to downy mildew Present/resistant (Ellom, Present (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) Poinsett, Silor) Resistance to Angular Leaf Spot Present/resistant Present (Pseudomonas lachrymans) Resistance to Anthracnose (Race 1) Untested Present (Colletotrichum lagenaria) Resistance to Anthracnose (Race 2) Untested Present *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line API74-200MO*HP200 CHARACTERISTIC API74-200MO*HP200 Eureka 1. Type Predominant usage Pickling Pickling Predominant culture Outdoor Outdoor Area of best adaptation in the USA Most areas Most areas 2. Maturity Days from seeding to market 45 43 maturity 3. Plant Habit Vine Vine Growth type Indeterminate (Corona, Indeterminate Levina) Vigor Strong (Avir, Farbio, Nimbus) Sex expression Monoecious Monoecious (Hokus, Sporu) Number of female flowers per 1 to 3 node (Hokus, Sandra) Flower color Yellow Yellow Flower color (RHS color chart 12A 12A value) 4. Main Stem Main stem length 289.6 cm 266.7 cm Number of nodes from cotyledon 21 18 leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower Internode length 8.2 cm 7.9 cm Stem Form Grooved, ridged Grooved, ridged Plant: Total length of first 15 Medium (Fablo, internodes Marketmore) Plant: Length of internodes of side Medium (Stereo) shoots 5. Leaf Mature blade of third leaf: leaf 186 mm 176 mm length Mature blade of third leaf: leaf 187 mm 174 mm width Mature blade of third leaf: petiole 15 cm 15 cm length Size of blade Medium (Briljant) Intensity of green color Medium (Rocket GS, Stereo) Blistering Weak (Pepinex 69, Rocket GS) Undulation of margin Weak (Pepinex 69, Rocket GS) Length of terminal lobe Short (Kornim) Width of terminal lobe Narrow (Kornim) Ratio length/width of terminal Equal to 1 lobe Young fruit: type of vestiture Prickles only (Tagor) Young fruit: density of vestiture Sparse (Tagor) Young fruit: color of vestiture White (Farbio, Levo, Rocket GS, Sandra) Young fruit: size of warts Absent or very small (Vert long maraicher) Parthenocarpy Absent (Levo, Toska 70) Fruit: length Medium (Gemini) 6. Fruit At edible maturity: fruit length 11.5 cm 12.8 cm Diameter Medium (Corona) At edible maturity: fruit diameter 4.2 cm 4.2 cm at medial Ratio length/diameter Medium Core diameter in relation to Medium (Corona) diameter of fruit At edible maturity: fruit gram 148.9 g 156.2 g weight Skin color/mottling Not mottled (Sensation) Not mottled Intensity of mottling Weak (Raider) At edible maturity: Yellowish Absent Absent blossom end stripes At edible maturity: Predominant Dark green Dark green color at stem end At edible maturity: Predominant 139A 139A color at stem end (RHS Color Chart value) At edible maturity: Predominant Medium green Medium green color at blossom end At edible maturity: Predominant 143A 143A color at blossom end (RHS Color Chart value) At edible maturity: Fruit neck Not necked Not necked shape Predominant shape of stem end at Obtuse (Maram, Score, market stage Tagor) Shape of calyx end at market stage Obtuse (Astrea, Score, Picadilly Hybrid, Raider) At edible maturity: Fruit tapering Ends blunt or rounded Blunt/rounded At edible maturity: Stem end cross Circular Circular section At edible maturity: Medial cross Circular Circular section At edible maturity: Blossom end Circular Circular cross section Ground color of skin at market Green (Corona) stage Intensity of ground color of skin Medium At edible maturity: Skin thickness Thin Thin At edible maturity: Skin ribs Present/ribbed (Corona, De Absent/not Massy, Fin de Meaux, ribbed Marketer)) Prominence of ribs Weak (Donor, Rocket GS) Coloration of ribs compared to Equal ground color At edible maturity: Skin toughness Tender Tender At edible maturity: Skin luster Dull Dull At edible maturity: Spine color White White At edible maturity: Spine quality Coarse Coarse At edible maturity: Spine density Few Few Vestiture Sparse Warts Absent (Diana) At edible maturity: Tubercles Few, obscure Few, obscure (warts) Stripes (ribs excluded) Present (Levo) Length of stripes Short (Astrea) Length of peduncle Short (Admirable, Belcanto) Thickness of peduncle Medium (Dominant) Ground color of skin at Yellow physiological ripening Time of development of female Late (Fin de Meaux, flowers (80% of plants with at Riesenchal) least one female flower) Cotyledon: bitterness Absent (Fablo, Pandex, Rocket GS, Sandra) At edible maturity: Absent/bitterfree (Farbio, Absent/bitterfree Flavor/bitterness at stem end Levo, Rocket GS, Sporu) 7. Fruit seed at harvest maturity Measurements fruit seed length 1.0 cm 1.0 cm Measurements fruit seed diameter 0.4 cm 0.45 cm at medial Color Cream Cream Color RHS Color Chart value 161D 161D Color pattern Not striped Not striped Surface Smooth Smooth Netting Slight or none Slight or none 8. Seeds Number of seeds per fruit 69 260 Grams per 1,000 seeds 27.7 g 29.6 g 9. Resistance Resistance to Cucumber Scab Untested Present (Gummosis) (Cladosporium cucumerinum) Resistance to Cucumis Mosaic Present (Hokus, Levo, Naf) Untested Virus (CMV) Resistance to powdery mildew Present (Cordoba) Untested (Sphaerotheca fuliginea) Resistance to downy mildew Present/resistant (Ellom, Present (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) Poinsett, Silor) Resistance to Angular Leaf Spot Present/resistant Present (Pseudomonas lachrymans) Resistance to Anthracnose (Race Present/resistant Present 1) (Colletotrichum lagenaria) Resistance to Anthracnose (Race Present/resistant Present 2) *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 4 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line API45-1197MO CHARACTERISTIC API45-1197MO Eureka 1. Type Predominant usage Pickling Pickling Predominant culture Outdoor Outdoor Area of best adaptation in the USA Most areas Most areas 2. Maturity Days from seeding to market maturity 55 43 3. Plant Habit Vine Vine Growth type Indeterminate (Corona, Indeterminate Levina) Vigor Strong (Avir, Farbio, Nimbus) Sex expression Monoecious Monoecious (Hokus, Sporu) Number of female flowers per node 1 to 3 (Hokus, Sandra) Flower color Yellow Yellow Flower color (RHS color chart value) 12A 12A 4. Main Stem Main stem length 342.9 cm 266.7 cm Number of nodes from cotyledon 29 18 leaves to node bearing the first pistillate flower Internode length 11 cm 7.9 cm Stem Form Grooved, ridged Grooved, ridged Plant: Total length of first 15 Medium (Fablo, internodes Marketmore) Plant: Length of internodes of side Short shoots 5. Leaf Mature blade of third leaf: leaf length 206 mm 176 mm Mature blade of third leaf: leaf width 199 mm 174 mm Mature blade of third leaf: petiole 16.9 cm 15 cm length Size of blade Medium (Briljant) Intensity of green color Medium (Rocket GS, Stereo) Blistering Weak (Pepinex 69, Rocket GS) Undulation of margin Weak (Pepinex 69, Rocket GS) Length of terminal lobe Medium (Corona) Width of terminal lobe Narrow (Kornim) Ratio length/width of terminal lobe More than 1 (Riesenchal) Young fruit: type of vestiture Prickles only (Tagor) Young fruit: density of vestiture Sparse (Tagor) Young fruit: color of vestiture White (Farbio, Levo, Rocket GS, Sandra) Young fruit: size of warts Small (Astrea, Breso, Donor, Uwy) Parthenocarpy Absent (Levo, Toska 70) Fruit: length Medium (Gemini) 6. Fruit At edible maturity: fruit length 14.8 cm 12.8 cm Diameter Medium (Corona) At edible maturity: fruit diameter at 4.4 cm 4.2 cm medial Ratio length/diameter Medium Core diameter in relation to diameter Medium (Corona) of fruit At edible maturity: fruit gram weight 196.6 g 156.2 g Skin color/mottling Not mottled (Sensation) Not mottled Intensity of mottling Weak (Raider) At edible maturity: Yellowish Absent Absent blossom end stripes At edible maturity: Predominant color Dark green Dark green at stem end At edible maturity: Predominant color 139A 139A at stem end (RHS Color Chart value) At edible maturity: Predominant color Medium green Medium green at blossom end At edible maturity: Predominant color 137B 143A at blossom end (RHS Color Chart value) At edible maturity: Fruit neck shape Not necked Not necked Predominant shape of stem end at Acute (De Massy, market stage Maxor) Shape of calyx end at market stage Acute (De Massy, Maxor, Pepinex 69) At edible maturity: Fruit tapering Ends blunt or rounded Blunt/rounded At edible maturity: Stem end cross Circular Circular section At edible maturity: Medial cross Circular Circular section At edible maturity: Blossom end Circular Circular cross section Ground color of skin at market stage Yellow (Gele Tros) Intensity of ground color of skin Light At edible maturity: Skin thickness Thin Thin At edible maturity: Skin ribs Absent/not ribbed Absent/not (Maram, Riesenchal) ribbed At edible maturity: Skin toughness Tender Tender At edible maturity: Skin luster Dull Dull At edible maturity: Spine color White White At edible maturity: Spine quality Coarse Coarse At edible maturity: Spine density Few Few Vestiture Absent or very Sparse (Beth Alpha) Warts Absent (Diana) At edible maturity: Tubercles (warts) Few, obscure Few, obscure Stripes (ribs excluded) Present (Levo) Length of stripes Long (Finvo, Pioneer, Tagor, Tokyo Slicer) Length of peduncle Short (Admirable, Belcanto) Thickness of peduncle Medium (Dominant) Ground color of skin at physiological Yellow ripening Time of development of female Late (Fin de Meaux, flowers (80% of plants with at least Riesenchal) one female flower) Cotyledon: bitterness Absent (Fablo, Pandex, Rocket GS, Sandra) At edible maturity: Flavor/bitterness Absent/bitterfree Absent/bitterfree at stem end (Farbio, Levo, Rocket GS, Sporu) 7. Fruit seed at harvest maturity Measurements fruit seed length 0.8 cm 1.0 cm Measurements fruit seed diameter at 0.4 cm 0.45 cm medial Color Cream Cream Color RHS Color Chart value 161D 161D Color pattern Not striped Not striped Surface Smooth Smooth Netting Slight or none Slight or none 8. Seeds Number of seeds per fruit 280 260 Grams per 1,000 seeds 23.7 g 29.6 g 9. Resistance Resistance to Cucumber Scab Present/resistant Present (Gummosis) (Cladosporium (Marketmore 76) cucumerinum) Resistance to Cucumis Mosaic Virus Present (Hokus, Levo, (CMV) Naf) Resistance to powdery mildew Present/resistant (Breso) Untested (Erysiphe cichoriacearum) Resistance to downy mildew Present/resistant (Ellom, Present (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) Poinsett, Silor) Resistance to Angular Leaf Spot Present/resistant Present (Pseudomonas lachrymans) Resistance to Anthracnose (Race 1) Present/resistant Present (Colletotrichum lagenaria) Resistance to Anthracnose (Race 2) Untested Present *These are typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Cucumber Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seed of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 involving crossing cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention, hybrid PX04914104, line API74-200MO*HP200, or line API45-1197MO may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be used for propagation of hybrid PX04914104 and/or the cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO, or can be used to produce plants that are derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or the cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO. Plants derived from hybrid PX04914104 and/or the cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO may be used, in certain embodiments, for the development of new cucumber varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties is well known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varieties may be created by crossing hybrid PX04914104 followed by multiple generations of breeding according to such well known methods. New varieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selecting such a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines, it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initial crosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to produce new varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or more generations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way of double-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breeding lines without the need for multiple generations of selfing and selection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in as little as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced from microspores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploid embryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments (e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be grown into haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In either case, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with the invention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plant of the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossing transfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbred source to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locus or loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are then mated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristic being transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almost all other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plant of the present invention are particularly well suited for the development of new lines based on the elite nature of the genetic background of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PX04914104 and/or cucumber lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO for the purpose of developing novel cucumber lines, it will typically be preferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirable traits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seed germination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance or resistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions. Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and taste are other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines of cucumber plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PX04914104 exhibits desirable agronomic traits. The performance characteristics of PX04914104 were the subject of an objective analysis relative to other varieties. The results of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 5 Performance Characteristics For PX04914104 Diseases Powdery Plot Plant Stem Fruit Virus Mildew Hybrid mts Vigor Vigor Set Mat. Resistance Resistance VLASSTAR 10 4 5 4 4 1 1 EUREKA 10 5 5 8 8 1 1 ZAPATA 10 2 5 7 7 1 1 PX04914104 10 3 4 8 8 1 3 Rating Scale Plot Mts number of plants Plant Vigor Rating 1 = very vigorous; 3 = vigorous; 5 = medium; 7 = fair Stem Vigor Rating 1 = very vigorous; 3 = vigorous; 5 = medium; 7 = fair Fruit Set Rating 1 = good; 5 = average; 9 = poor Mat 1 = early; 9 = late Virus Resistance Rating 1 = resistant; 9 = susceptible (Includes Cucumber Mosaic Virus, Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus and Papaya Ringspot Virus) Powdery Mildew Resistance Rating 1 = resistant; 9 = susceptible

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein are provided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait. Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant via the backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant as used herein refers to those cucumber plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristics of a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in the same environment, other than an occasional variant trait that might arise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parental cucumber plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent.

This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. The parental cucumber plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a cucumber plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for a successful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol is to alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the original variety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety is modified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrent parent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desired genetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphological constitution of the original variety. The choice of the particular nonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one of the major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristic or trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrent and nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive and dominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired characteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny cucumber plants of a backcross in which a plant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired trait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of cucumber the recurrent parent as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. The technique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrent parents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used to replace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain more desirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtain different desirable characteristics from each.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improved by backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not be transgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to, herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, and altered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inherited through the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as a dominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initial cross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of the corresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates any plants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and only those plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross. This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of cucumber plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent on the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on genetic investigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic marker which is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of these markers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait in the offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection of progeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred to as marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or other assay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of a trait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes. Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Such methods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traits and variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be more expensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of genetic markers which could be used in accordance with the invention include, but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well as directly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetic transformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be used to insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may, alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can be introduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plants that are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to many crop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation, microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and direct DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ either friable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogenic callus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or other organized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partially degrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them to pectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues in a controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plant cells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles are coated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propelling force. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten, platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspension are concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively, immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culture medium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriate distance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plant cells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, which can be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through a screen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surface covered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so that they are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates. Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may be used to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system for introducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique is that DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassing the need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. Modern Agrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E. coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations (Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is efficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and defined nature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediated plant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is well known in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methods based on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment, electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g., Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986; Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plants and expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al. (1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for any gene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers, scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance, nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest. Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expression include, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression in most plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); a tandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter (P-e35S) the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988), the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem, the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter, a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter, a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter, and other plant DNA virus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response to environmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can also be used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells, including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., 1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al., 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of this invention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from another species, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are present in the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells by genetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction or breeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended to refer to genes that are not normally present in the cell being transformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc., as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which are normally present and that one desires to express in a manner that differs from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express. Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any gene or DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless of whether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The type of DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is already present in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a different organism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequence containing an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding a synthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and could potentially be introduced into a cucumber plant according to the invention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and corresponding phenotypes one may choose to introduce into a cucumber plant include one or more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control, herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, and genes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements, environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plant physiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). For example, structural genes would include any gene that confers insect tolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control protein gene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, herein incorporated by reference it their entirety. In another embodiment, the structural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate as conferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strain CP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, or glyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes by encoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targeted inhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example via antisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Bird et al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all of which alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of the parents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce one or more single locus conversions from one genetic background into another.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes from different plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation of the organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemical agent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenic plants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets of chromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregate together more often than expected by chance if their transmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited in codominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygote are readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e., heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, which characteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer to genetic loci that control to some degree numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” are used interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to a specified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmental condition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing some symptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with an acceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant or tolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop, even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of a cucumber variety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the single locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/or by genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does not show a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from the mean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has been introduced into the genome of a cucumber plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and inbred parent lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of each of the deposits was Feb. 5, 2009. The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of cucumber hybrid PX04914104 and inbred parent lines API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO are ATCC Accession Number PTA-9763, ATCC Accession Number PTA-9754, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-9764, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits are intended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated herein by reference:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,365 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052 -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,275 -   An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988. -   Bird et al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991. -   Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989. -   Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965, 1988. -   Choi et al., Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994. -   Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990. -   Ellul et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 107:462-469, 2003. -   EP 534 858 -   Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985. -   Fromm et al., Nature, 312:791-793, 1986. -   Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989. -   Gibson and Shillito, Mol. Biotech., 7:125,1997 -   Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985. -   Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989. -   Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988. -   Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989. -   Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985. -   Omirulleh et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993. -   Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985. -   Roshal et al., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987. -   Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991. -   Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988. -   Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989. -   Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985. -   Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990. -   Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986. -   Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998. -   Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990. -   WO 99/31248 

1. A seed of the hybrid cucumber PX04914104, produced by crossing a first plant of variety API74-200MO*HP200 with a second plant of variety API45-1197MO, wherein representative seed of said varieties API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO have been deposited under ATCC Accession numbers PTA-9754 and PTA-9764, respectively.
 2. A plant of the hybrid cucumber PX04914104 grown from the seed of claim
 1. 3. A plant part of the plant of claim
 2. 4. The plant part of claim 3, further defined as an ear, ovule, pollen or cell.
 5. A tissue culture of cells of the plant of claim
 2. 6. The tissue culture of claim 5, wherein cells of the tissue culture are from a tissue selected from the group consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 7. The seed of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second plants further comprises a transgene.
 8. The seed of claim 7, wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 9. The seed of claim 7, wherein the first and second plants each comprise a different transgene.
 10. The seed of claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second plants comprises a single locus conversion.
 11. The seed of claim 10, wherein the single locus conversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 12. A method of producing hybrid cucumber seed comprising crossing a plant of variety API74-200MO*HP200 with a plant of variety API45-1197MO, wherein representative seed of variety API74-200MO*HP200 and variety API45-1197MO have been deposited under ATCC Accession numbers PTA-9754 and PTA-9764, respectively.
 13. The method of claim 12, defined as comprising pollinating a plant of inbred variety API74-200MO*HP200 with pollen from a plant of variety API45-1197MO.
 14. The method of claim 12, defined as comprising pollinating a plant of inbred variety API45-1197MO with pollen from a plant of variety API74-200MO*HP200.
 15. A method of introducing a heritable trait into hybrid cucumber PX04914104 comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a first plant of a first inbred cucumber variety selected from the group consisting of variety API74-200MO*HP200 and variety API45-1197MO with another cucumber plant that heritably carries the trait to produce progeny plants, at least some of which heritably carry the trait, wherein representative samples of seed of variety API74-200MO*HP200 and variety API45-1197MO have been deposited under ATCC Accession numbers PTA-9754 and PTA-9764, respectively; (b) selecting progeny plants that heritably carry the trait; (c) crossing selected progeny plants with another plant of the first inbred cucumber variety to produce next-generation progeny plants at least some of which heritably carry the trait; (d) selecting next-generation progeny plants that heritably carry the trait and exhibit morphological and physiological characteristics of the first inbred cucumber variety; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times to produce at least a first selected progeny plant that heritably carries the trait and exhibits essentially all of the morphological and physical characteristics of the inbred cucumber variety; and (f) crossing a progeny plant of step (e) with a plant of the other inbred cucumber variety of the group consisting of API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO to produce a plant comprising the trait and essentially all of the characteristics of hybrid cucumber PX04914104 when grown under the same environmental conditions.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising repeating steps (a)-(f) at least once to introduce at least a second trait into hybrid cucumber PX04914104, wherein the second trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, waxy starch, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified phytic acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 18. A plant produced by the method of claim
 15. 19. A method of introducing a desired trait into hybrid cucumber PX04914104 comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a transgene conferring the trait into a variety selected from the group consisting of API74-200MO*HP200 and API45-1197MO to produce a transgenic plant heritably carrying the trait; and (b) crossing the transgenic plant or an isogenic progeny plant thereof with a plant of the other inbred cucumber variety to produce seed of the hybrid cucumber PX04914104 that heritably carries and expresses the transgene and otherwise has essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of hybrid cucumber PX04914104 when grown under the same environmental conditions.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the desired trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising repeating steps (a) and (b) at least once to introduce at least a second trait into hybrid cucumber PX04914104, wherein the second trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stress tolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified protein metabolism.
 22. A plant produced by the method of claim
 19. 23. A method of producing a cucumber plant derived from the hybrid cucumber PX04914104, comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with a second cucumber plant to produce a progeny cucumber plant derived from the hybrid cucumber PX04914104.
 24. The method of claim 23, further defined as comprising producing a cucumber plant derived from the hybrid cucumber PX04914104, the method comprising the steps of: (a) crossing the progeny cucumber plant derived from the hybrid cucumber PX04914104 with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation; (b) growing a progeny plant of a subsequent generation from the seed and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for an addition 3-10 generations to produce a cucumber plant derived from the hybrid cucumber PX04914104.
 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of: (d) crossing the cucumber plant derived from the hybrid cucumber PX04914104 with a second, distinct cucumber plant.
 26. A method of producing a cucumber fruit comprising: (a) obtaining a plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a cucumber from the plant.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the plant according to claim 1 is a plant of cucumber hybrid PX04914104, a sample of seed of said hybrid PX04914104 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-9763.
 28. A method of producing cucumber seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second cucumber plant and allowing seed to form. 